2F2009 Etihad Airways will launch thrice-weekly Abu Dhabi-Chicago O'Hare service on Sept. 2 aboard a 240-seat A340-500. Route becomes daily on Oct. 1. It has been flying to New York JFK since October 2006.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is not interested in joining a global alliance even as it copes with the impact of the global downturn (ATWOnline, Feb. 5). Speaking to ATWOnline in Washington last week, CEO James Hogan reiterated his opposition to participating in one of the big three alliances, a view shared by other carriers in the Gulf region such as Emirates. "We have no desire to move into any alliance. . .what we are focused on is strong bilaterals with specific airlines," he told this website.

He also said "that 52% of [Etihad's] traffic is destination Abu Dhabi, which would probably surprise people." He cited the emirate's development and diversification beyond a resource-based economy for the strong O&D traffic. At the same time, he emphasized the advantages of a hub in the Gulf region midpoint between Europe and South Asia for capturing flow traffic. "We're seeing that we are able to shift traffic for the Asian and European hubs over the Gulf hubs," he said.

"The model that we're looking at is how we firstly provide the ultra-long-haul and long-haul services with our widebody aircraft, and I think we've done a pretty good job in ramping up so quickly," he explained.

"But then there's a domestic market which is going to be opening up over the next five years. If you look at India, for example, [there are] 40 airports moving to 70 airports and the narrowbody is a perfect vehicle to service those markets. It gives you huge flexibility."

EY also uses its A320s to open and develop new destinations. "If you look at Moscow, for example, we have a narrowbody on that route and that helps us in the startup phase. When it matures, we've got the flexibility to flip that aircraft with a widebody," Hogan said.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Sofia, a 34-year-old Frenchwoman, moved here a year ago to take a job in advertising, so confident about Dubai’s fast-growing economy that she bought an apartment for almost $300,000 with a 15-year mortgage.

An abandoned car in a parking garage in Dubai. One report said 3,000 cars were sitting abandoned at the Dubai Airport.

Now, like many of the foreign workers who make up 90 percent of the population here, she has been laid off and faces the prospect of being forced to leave this Persian Gulf city — or worse.

“I’m really scared of what could happen, because I bought property here,” said Sofia, who asked that her last name be withheld because she is still hunting for a new job. “If I can’t pay it off, I was told I could end up in debtors’ prison.”

How do the two large aircraft manufacturers— Airbus and Boeing—treat you, you’re a marquee customer for both of them?You have to look at it this way: After September 11, 2001, how many airlines ordered planes? People thought that this was the worst time. We ordered planes and we enjoyed that for the last six years. Today, it is similar, people are asking how will we survive? But honestly, this (the crisis) is only for a short period of time, the world will move on and people will forget about it.

So, you are not going to delay or cancel your orders like some Indian carriers have done?Not at all. We have no intention to delay or cancel orders.

How important will the Indian market be for low-cost carrier FlyDubai that you have planned for 2009?I don’t think it will be important for just the Indian market, but all markets within four-and-a-half hours out of Dubai, to fill the gaps that we are unable to fill today with Emirates.

Why did you feel the need for a lowcost carrier? Was it because of the success of Sharjah’s Air Arabia?That is not the case. We had been toying around with the idea of a low-cost carrier for quite a while. I believe there is an audience within four hours of flight time who want such an option. However, while FlyDubai is currently a subsidiary of Emirates, going forward it will be an independent carrier.

You have faced tremendous competition over the past few years from a whole slew of new Gulf airlines, particularly Etihad and Qatar…I think the market is large enough for everyone to do well…

The Dubai press has been speculating that Emirates and Etihad will be merged…That is just speculation.

You have grown so large. Is there any ambition to become the #1 airline in the world, given that you have 54 more Airbus A380s on order?The focus has always been on profitability and profitable growth rather than the express desire to be the largest airline in the world. I think that is more of an accident rather than by design.

And do you plan to operate the Airbus A380 to India?We will be receiving our fourth aircraft soon and initially there are no plans to operate the aircraft to India. But later on, as India builds up the infrastructure to support the aircraft with new airports and if we see the demand for seats, we will definitely operate the aircraft into India. But you have to keep in mind that in India we are not limited by number of flights we can operate but by the number of seats we can offer, and the Airbus A380 will have a lot more seats than the Airbus A330 and Boeing 777 we use today. So that will have to be resolved.

Emirates Airline today unveiled plans to grow the number of flights across its network by 14 per cent in 2009.

This year, the Dubai based carrier will add 18 new passenger aircraft to its fleet, increasing seating capacity by 14 per cent and enabling it to start new routes as well as increase frequencies on many existing routes. It will also expand cargo capacity by 17 per cent.

The additional frequencies will afford passengers a greater choice of flights, more frequent connections with their target markets and shorter, more convenient connection times.

Emirates currently has a fleet of 129 wide-bodied aircraft. By the end of the 2008-09 financial year (ending 31st March 2009), that figure will stand at 132, including four superjumbo Airbus A380s. The carrier will welcome a further seven A380s in fiscal year 2009-10 (ending 31st March 2010), as well as 10 Boeing 777-300ER, one 777-200LR and one Boeing 777 freighter.

The ambitious Abu Dhabi-based carrier does not typically release financial figures, but speaking Tuesday at the Aviation Outlook Middle East 2009 conference in the UAE capital, Hogan revealed that EY's 2008 revenue came to $2.5 billion. "We are taking a bullish approach in 2009 despite tough market conditions," he was quoted as saying.

EY will add at least six new routes this year (Melbourne, Athens, Istanbul Ataturk, Chicago O'Hare, Larnaca and Hyderabad) and expects load factor to rise 2 points to 77% and yield to increase 8%. It transportedmore than 6 million passengers last year as it added nine aircraft.---------Peut-être interessant de comparer les load factors dans les infos données sur les cies US, par exemple

Etihad Airways CEO James Hogan said the Abu Dhabi-based carrier is pressing ahead with its expansion plans and is on target to achieve "breakeven" financial results by 2010 despite the "rough ride" the global airline industry currently is enduring.

Speaking yesterday at an International Aviation Club luncheon in Washington, Hogan said Etihad--launched in November 2003--benefits from having "no legacy [airline] costs. . .We had the ability to start with a clean piece of paper. . .and are still on the upward curve of our expansion."

Etihad signaled an aggressive expansion when it ordered 35 787s, 10 777-300ERs, 20 A320s, 25 A350s and 10 A380s worth $21 billion and optioned another 105 across all types worth a further $22 billion at last summer's Farnborough Airshow. It flew 6 million passengers in 2008, up 34% year-over-year, and plans to carry 25 million annually by 2020. It will add Melbourne, Istanbul Ataturk, Athens and Chicago O'Hare to its route network this year, part of an ongoing effort to "expand our footprint," Hogan said.

He conceded that "we are seeing a softening in first class" bookings, but insisted that"business class is holding up." He acknowledged that managing costs is a concern, particularly given that "we do not receive any government handouts" and have a "very clear commercial mandate" from the Abu Dhabi government, which owns the airline. The carrier has imposed a head count freeze on nonoperational staff and is "managing capex."

Etihad is primed to turn Abu Dhabi into a major East-West gateway hub, he said. Questioned regarding the fact that Emirates already is building adjacent Dubai into such a hub, he compared the situation to that which exists between Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines, whose hubs are also quite close.

Reaching "sustained profitability by 2010 [is a] critical target," he said. "We're holding the tiller tight. But we're going to have to street fight." He said that the next 12-24 months probably will be focused more on building frequencies on existing routes than adding a high number of new routes but thathe airline is looking at one or two possible additions to its 50-destinationnetwork.

Etihad Airways unveiled a new first class cabin containing 12 individual suites with sliding doors, changing room/wash basin and a lie-flat, 80.5-in. seat with built-in massager. It invested $70 million in the upgrade. "Competition for premium customers remains intense and during the last 12 months a number of airlines have unveiled significant enhancements to their first class cabins, with others deciding to remove the cabin completely from their aircraft," CEO James Hogan said. "A downturn is exactly the time when an airline needs to demonstrate its commitment to the very highest standards of service excellence." The first aircraft equipped with the new cabin will be an A340-600 scheduled to enter service in August. Full rollout is expected by the end of 2010

June 14 (Bloomberg) -- Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, plans to announce engine orders valued at about $6.7 billion including service at theParis Air Show, according to three people familiar with the matter.

The engines are for 100 Airbus SAS and Boeing Co. aircraft announced at the Farnborough International Air Show last year, said the people, who asked not be identified before an official announcement this week.

General Electric Co. beat Rolls-Royce Group Plc in getting contracts for 35 of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliners, while the U.S. supplier’s Engine Alliance venture with United Technologies Corp.’s Pratt & Whitney will provide engines for 10 superjumbo A380s, two of the people said. International Aero Engines, a venture led by Pratt & Whitney and London-basedRolls-Royce, won an order to power 20 A320 aircraft, they said.

While airframe makers work to keep contracts they already have, engine manufacturers are fighting for wins from the few areas of the world with cash to spend, such as the Middle East. Orders, especially for larger ones, can lag airframe contracts as carriers weigh options such as including engines with common parts to make maintenance less expensive.

Etihad Chief Executive Officer James Hogan is scheduled to host two press conferences on June 16 in Le Bourget, where the biennial Paris Air Show is held, according to an invitation.Anne Tullis, a spokeswoman at the Abu Dhabi-based carrier, declined to comment.

Options

The engine orders may reach about $13 billion if another 105 aircraft options are exercised, one of the people said. The planes are to be delivered between 2011 and 2020.

GE, the only engine provided on Boeing’s 777-300ER model, will supply 10 of those aircraft, while Rolls-Royce is the only current provider of engines for the A350. Etihad ordered 25 planes of that model.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has completed engine selection forthe large aircraft order placed at the Farnborough Air Show in 2008, asource close to the order confirms.The airline has selected theGeneral Electric GEnx for its 35 Boeing 787s, the Engine AllianceGP7200 for its 10 Airbus A380s and International Aero Engines (IAE)V2500s for its A320s.The engine order is valued at about $6.7 billion, potentially making it the largest order of the show by value.Etihad was originally to take four test A380s which would have been delivered with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.Butwhen it increased its order to 10 A380s the carrier opted for all-newaircraft, opening the door for Engine Alliance to flip the engine orderin its favour. The order marks a significant blow to Rolls-Royce which offers the Trent 900 and 1000 engines for the A380 and 787 respectively.EngineAlliance is a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and GE whileInternational Aero Engines (IAE) is a partnership between Rolls-Royceand Pratt & Whitney.Etihad's order at the 2008 FarnboroughAir Show comprised firm purchases of 35 787-9s and 10 777-300ERs fromBoeing and 20 Airbus A320s, 25 A350 XWBs and 10 A380s.Theairline also holds options on a further five A320s, five A380s, 10A350s, 25 787s and purchase rights for 15 A320s, 15 A350s, five A380s,10 787s and five 777s.Boeing's 777-300ER and Airbus's A350 XWB offer a single choice of engine.http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/06/14/327932/paris-2009-big-etihad-engine-deal-includes-genx-and.html

The airline has selected the General Electric GEnx for its 35 Boeing 787s, the Engine Alliance GP7200 for its 10 Airbus A380s and International Aero Engines (IAE) V2500s for its A320s.

The engine order is valued at about $6.7 billion, potentially making it the largest order of the show by value.

Etihad was originally to take four test A380s which would have been delivered with Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engines.But when it increased its order to 10 A380s the carrier opted for all-new aircraft, opening the door for Engine Alliance to flip the engine order in its favour.

The order marks a significant blow to Rolls-Royce which offers the Trent 900 and 1000 engines for the A380 and 787 respectively. Engine Alliance is a joint venture between Pratt & Whitney and GE while International Aero Engines (IAE) is a partnership between Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney.

Etihad's order at the 2008 Farnborough Air Show comprised firm purchases of 35 787-9s and 10 777-300ERs from Boeing and 20 Airbus A320s, 25 A350 XWBs and 10 A380s.

The airline also holds options on a further five A320s, five A380s, 10 A350s, 25 787s and purchase rights for 15 A320s, 15 A350s, five A380s, 10 787s and five 777s.

Boeing's 777-300ER and Airbus's A350 XWB offer a single choice of engine.

Etihad Airways has chosen GE Aviation, Rolls-Royce, Engine Alliance and International Aero Engines (IAE) to power the new Airbus and Boeing aircraft that it ordered at last year's Farnborough International Airshow.